National health resources

Australian Capital Territory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Directory Resource

The ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Directory Resource provides a list of local non-community organisations and businesses operating in Canberra and surrounding region.

Australian Government Portal

A gateway to information on Australian Government Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander initiatives and programs.

Link: Australian Government Portal

Australian Government Health Heroes

This campaign will target Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary school students to encourage them to pursue a job in the health sector and make them more aware of the opportunities in health, including the range of jobs, training options, career pathways and financial and other types of support available.

The Attracting More People to Work in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health campaign is part of the Australian Government's commitment to close the gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians.

Link: Australian Government Health Heroes

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)

Seminars Series are run throughout the annual year on a variety of topics relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Link: Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies - Seminar Series

Australian Indigenous HealthinfoNet

The HealthInfoNet is a 'one-stop info-shop' that aims to contribute to 'closing the gap' in health between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians by informing practice and policy in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health by making research and other knowledge readily accessible.

Link: Australian Indigenous HealthinfoNet

Australian Indigenous Mental Health

The Australian Aboriginal Indigenous Mental Health site has been developed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Committee of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) and beyondblue: the national depression initiative.

The site supports the work of health professionals in improving knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait mental health issues and to achieve better outcomes.

Link: Australian Indigenous Mental Health

Condoman

A revised Condoman campaign was re-established by Queensland Health and the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities in 2009 to specifically target Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young peoples regarding condom promotion, STI and HIV prevention.

The Condoman campaign is being used in a number of jurisdictions across Australia and is about to be rolled out in South Africa. Resources available include Comics; Posters; Condom Pack Covers; Key Rings; Tattoos; A large pull out banner; and a Fancy Dress Costume.

Link: Condoman

Health professionals' learning and teaching resource - working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and clients

The online teaching resource aims to help 'close the gap' between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians through improving communication between health professionals and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Byalawa project comprises a website and a set of six online videos designed to assist health sciences students across a range of disciplines learn to effectively communicate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and clients.

Link: Byalawa

Indigenous Health and the Australian General Practice Network

General practice networks are well placed to support the implementation of these initiatives because of their experience in:

• Supporting general practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health management through education and training with GPs, Practice Nurses, general practice staff and other providers in the community;
• Promoting, developing and maintaining partnerships/relationships between general practice, Aboriginal Medical Services, and other service providers and consumers;
• Keeping abreast of relevant state and national initiatives to enable the identification of future directions in primary care and potential opportunities for collaborative programs and resource sharing at national, state and local levels; and
• Structured shared care programs, focussing on patient-focused care and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as a practice population.

Link: Indigenous Health and the Australian General Practice Network